The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-07-02


Spruce say? 1t will cost Mr.. Spruce
so much to hire Il girl to take my
place, and Mrs. Spruce is firmly con-
vinced that-that you are in love
with Helena Elviram
"Bother Mr.. Sprucew said Joab
recklessly; "and Mrs. Spruce must
unconvince herself the best way she
can. Helena Elvira, indeed Why
I'd as soon marry yonder clothes
horse !"
But Joab Whitley had hardly
calculated upon the energy of the
domestic storm which spent itself
upon poor Elsie when the actual
truth transpired Helena Elvira
sobbed, wept and declared herself
the victim of IL foul conspiracy.
81 felt IL cold chill creep all over
me when first | set my eyes on that
girl, six months ago." she bewailed
herself. 81 knew she was a serpent,
fated to sap my life's blood |"
"Elsie y said Mrs Spruce, sternly,
you must either give up this young
man or leave this house! !"
81 can't give up Joab y said Elsie,
bursting into tears. 81 love Joab p'
81 never heard anything so i'm
modest in my life shrieked Helena
Elvira.
"The only way to settle this ques-
ton" said Joab, when he heard of
the general commotion, sis for me
and Elsie to get married at once"
But Mrs. Spruce herself visited
the Old Red Cottage in Helena Elvi-
ra's behalf.
IL don't think you understand
exactly how matters are situated,
Joab," she said, with her most ma
ternal smile. Our dear Helena
Elvira-who is all shrinking modes
ty and clinging affection-will in
herit the whole of Chalk Farm and
ten thousand dollars in hard cash
the very day that she marries." )"
"But what is that to me?" said
Joab Whitley, drumming his fingers
on the window sill. 81 hope she
may be happily married, but"
"And," breathlessly added Mrs.
Spruce, "Paul's widow has nothing
but the gown she stands up in !"
"What ofthat?" said Joab, stoutly.
81 love her-and she loves mew
"Well," said Mrs. Spruce, tartly,
"if you are determined to make fools
of yourselves, you can do so"
And thus speaking, she shook the
dust of the Old Red Cottage off her
feet in disgust
But when she reached Chalk
Farm once more, her husband was
sitting in the best room, with his
head in his hands, and a face as
pale as ashes, while opposite him
stood IA spare, wrinkled, elderly man
in black.
Mrs. Spruce stopped on the
threshold just in time to hear the
concluding words of the stranger 5
sentence.
According to your account of it;
Hubbard Spruce" he said, "you
have been defrauding this girl of
her legal rights. You have been
swindling her Systematically and
deliberately. You have laid your
self open to the severests penalty OF
the law"
Don't, MIR. Payne-dOnt inter-
posed Elsie, who had advanced out
of the shadowy angle of the room.
"He is my father-in-law He has
been good to mel"
Gle has behaved like a scoundrel'
sternly said Mr.. Payne. "And it
only remains foryou to lodge an ac-
cusation in order that he may be
placed in the prison that he richly
deserves"
But Elsie put her arms around
Hubbard Spences's shoulder, as il
to shield him.
"Neverl" she said.
"Thank God for that word, Elsie
said Mrs. Spruce, hurrying forward
"Your father-in-law meant no harm
He always intended, some time, tC
give it back to you. What is this
lawyer doing here?"
''He is the gentleman who always
had charge of the Chalk Hill estat
es," said Elsie. "He came to see m,
about buying some more land. Thii
is the first | knew of-of poor Paul''
property. But, oh, father, mother :
with a pleading voice, 'it makes nj
difference to me- No one shall evel
know"
But to Helena Elvira's warped
nature, Elsie's sweet forgiveness wal
more bitter than the sharpest re
venge could have been.
The Spruce family moved out o
Chalk Farm back to the little one